FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE EXHIBIT 99.1 NATIONSBANK REPORTED 26 PERCENT INCREASE IN NET INCOME TO $788 MILLION IN THIRD QUARTER 1997 CHARLOTTE, NC, October 14, 1997 -- NationsBank third-quarter net income increased 26 percent from the year-ago quarter to $788 million, or $1.11 per common share, reflecting growth in revenue, cost containment and the benefit from recent acquisitions. "Diversified revenue streams and our disciplined attention to expense control have generated increased earnings for our company," said Hugh L. McColl Jr., chief executive officer. "We look forward to leveraging our business strengths across a customer base expanded by the addition of Montgomery Securities and the pending merger with Barnett Banks," McColl added. Net income for the first nine months of 1997 rose 30 percent to $2.26 billion, or $3.13 per common share. This compared to net income of $1.74 billion, or $2.91 per common share, in the first nine months of 1996. Excluding a merger- related charge in the first quarter of 1996, operating net income and earnings per share for the first nine months of 1996 were $1.82 billion and $3.04, respectively. Third quarter 1997 results included the benefit of several acquisitions completed in 1996 and early 1997, primarily the acquisition of Boatmen's Bancshares, Inc. on January 7, 1997. Earnings Highlights (third quarter 1997 compared to third quarter 1996 results) - ------------------- * Cash basis earnings (net income excluding amortization of intangibles) were $1.27 per common share, up 13 percent from $1.12 per share * Return on average tangible common shareholders' equity increased 840 basis points to 32.0 percent, from 23.6 percent * Noninterest income increased 38 percent to $1.22 billion driven by increases in all major categories * The cash basis efficiency ratio improved to 52.0 percent from 54.6 percent, reflecting successful integration efforts and expense containment Reported Earnings - ----------------- NationsBank earned $788 million in the third quarter of 1997. This represented a 26-percent increase over the $625 million earned in the third quarter 1996. Earnings per common share for the third quarter 1997 rose 5 percent to $1.11, from $1.06 in the year-ago quarter. Return on average common shareholders' equity was 15.9 percent in the third quarter 1997, down from 19.0 percent in the year-ago quarter, due primarily to the equity issued in the Boatmen's Bancshares, Inc. acquisition. Cash Basis Earnings - ------------------- Cash basis earnings increased 37 percent to $899 million in the third quarter of 1997, or $1.27 per common share. This compared to $658 million, or $1.12 per common share, in the third quarter 1996. The return on average tangible common shareholders' equity rose to 32.0 percent in the third quarter 1997, from 23.6 percent in the year-ago quarter. Net Interest Income - ------------------- In the third quarter of 1997, taxable-equivalent net interest income increased 24 percent to $2 billion compared to third quarter 1996. The growth was achieved through a 21-percent increase in average loans and leases and an 11- basis-point expansion in the net interest yield. The improvement in the net interest yield to 3.80 percent from 3.69 percent was primarily the result of the improved contribution of the securities portfolios and deposit expense management efforts. Noninterest Income - ------------------ Noninterest income rose 38 percent to $1.22 billion in the third quarter of 1997. This growth was attributable to higher levels of income from virtually all areas, including deposit accounts, asset management and fiduciary service fees, trading, investment banking and a gain on the sale of a credit card portfolio. Efficiency - ---------- In the third quarter of 1997, the cash basis efficiency ratio improved approximately 260 basis points to 52.0 percent, compared to 54.6 percent in the third quarter 1996. Including the amortization of intangibles, the efficiency ratio was 55.5 percent in the third quarter 1997 compared to 55.9 percent in 1996. Credit Quality - -------------- Total nonperforming assets were $1.27 billion on September 30, 1997, or .91 percent of net loans, leases and factored receivables and other real estate owned, compared to .93 percent of net levels on September 30, 1996. The allowance for credit losses totaled $2.78 billion at quarter-end, equaling 252 percent of nonperforming loans, compared to $2.32 billion, or 236 percent, one year earlier. In the third quarter of 1997, provision for credit losses was $190 million. Net charge-offs for the quarter were $199 million or .53 percent of average net loans, leases and factored receivables, compared to .44 percent in the third quarter 1996. Capital Strength - ---------------- Total shareholders' equity was $20.32 billion on September 30, 1997. This represented 8.38 percent of period-end assets, compared to 7.09 percent at September 30, 1996. Book value per common share rose 26 percent to $28.73 at the end of the third quarter 1997 from third quarter 1996. NationsBank Corporation, headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., is a bank holding company that provides financial products and services nationally and internationally to individuals, businesses, corporations, institutional investors and government agencies. NationsBank has primary retail and commercial banking operations in 16 states and the District of Columbia. As of September 30, 1997, NationsBank had total assets of $242 billion. NATIONSBANK CORPORATION FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
THREE MONTHS NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30 ENDED SEPTEMBER 30 1997 1996 1997 1996(1) -------------------------------------- FINANCIAL SUMMARY (In millions except per-share data) Net income $788 $625 $2,259 $1,743 Earnings per common share 1.11 1.06 3.13 2.91 Fully diluted earnings per common share 1.08 1.05 3.04 2.87 Cash basis earnings (2) 899 658 2,582 1,834 Cash basis earnings per share 1.27 1.12 3.58 3.06 Cash basis fully diluted earnings per share 1.23 1.11 3.48 3.02 Average common shares issued 708.278 585.266 719.489 595.545 Average fully diluted common shares issued 728.373 596.135 741.455 606.154 Price per share of common stock at period end $61.8750 $43.4375 $61.8750 $43.4375 Common dividends paid 232 169 714 518 Common dividends paid per share .33 .29 .99 .87 Preferred dividends paid 2 3 9 11 EARNINGS SUMMARY (Taxable-equivalent in millions) Net interest income $2,001 $1,616 $5,996 $4,811 Provision for credit losses (190) (145) (570) (455) Gains on sales of securities 19 26 91 34 Noninterest income 1,224 886 3,502 2,688 Other real estate owned expense (5) (6) (7) (13) Noninterest expense (1,788) (1,400) (5,396) (4,317) Income before income taxes 1,261 977 3,616 2,748 Income taxes - including FTE adjustment* 473 352 1,357 1,005 Net income $788 $625 $2,259 $1,743 *FTE adjustment $29 $21 $86 $72 AVERAGE BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY (In billions) Loans and leases, net $146.536 $121.197 $147.109 $122.729 Managed loans and leases, net 151.929 126.666 152.521 126.662 Securities held for investment 1.424 3.173 1.662 3.730 Securities available for sale 24.625 16.388 22.086 19.227 Total securities 26.049 19.561 23.748 22.957 Earning assets 209.678 174.299 208.846 179.465 Total assets 241.867 197.923 241.526 203.093 Noninterest-bearing deposits 31.901 24.190 31.185 24.000 Interest-bearing deposits 100.750 83.525 102.902 84.200 Total deposits 132.651 107.715 134.087 108.200 Shareholders' equity 19.678 13.133 20.126 13.276 Common shareholders' equity 19.619 13.014 20.013 13.163 OTHER FINANCIAL DATA Net interest yield 3.80% 3.69% 3.84% 3.58% Return on average assets 1.29 1.26 1.25 1.15 Return on average tangible assets 1.53 1.34 1.48 1.22 Return on average common shareholders' equity 15.91 19.00 15.03 17.58 Return on average tangible common shareholders' equity 31.96 23.56 29.55 21.56 Total equity to assets ratio (period-end) 8.38 7.09 8.38 7.09 Gross charge-offs (in millions) $283 $194 $793 $628 Net charge-offs (in millions) 199 135 567 447 % of average loans, leases and factored accounts receivable, net .53% .44% .51% .48% Managed credit card net charge-offs as a % of average managed credit card receivables 6.74% 4.67% 6.36% 4.29% Efficiency ratio 55.47 55.92 56.82 55.97 Cash basis efficiency ratio 52.04 54.63 53.42 54.75 (1) 1996 results included a merger-related charge of $118 million($77 million, net of tax, or $.13 per common share). (2) Cash basis earnings equal net income excluding amortization of intangibles.
SEPTEMBER 30 1997 1996 ------------------ BALANCE SHEET SUMMARY (In billions) Loans and leases, net $138.352 $120.829 Securities held for investment 1.301 3.035 Securities available for sale 34.239 13.334 Total securities 35.540 16.369 Earning assets 212.176 167.284 Factored accounts receivable 1.230 1.249 Mortgage servicing rights 1.186 .944 Goodwill, core deposit and other intangibles 8.404 2.002 Total assets 242.437 187.671 Noninterest-bearing deposits 33.010 25.990 Interest-bearing deposits 97.437 82.142 Total deposits 130.447 108.132 Shareholders' equity 20.317 13.304 Common shareholders' equity 20.262 13.186 Per common share (not in billions) 28.73 22.88 Risk-based capital Tier 1 capital $13.451 $11.128 Tier 1 capital ratio 7.00% 7.05% Total capital $22.221 $19.031 Total capital ratio 11.56% 12.05% Leverage ratio 6.16% 6.30% Common shares issued (in millions) 705.348 576.224 Allowance for credit losses $2.783 $2.319 Allowance for credit losses as % of net loans, leases and factored accounts receivable 1.99% 1.90% Allowance for credit losses as % of nonperforming loans 251.74 235.64 Nonperforming loans $1.106 $.984 Nonperforming assets 1.266 1.135 Nonperforming assets as % of: Total assets .52% .61% Net loans, leases, factored accounts receivable and other real estate owned .91% .93% OTHER DATA Full-time equivalent headcount 78,097 63,142 Banking centers 2,583 1,980 ATMs 6,052 3,609
BUSINESS UNIT RESULTS - Three months ended September 30, 1997 (in millions)
General Bank Global Finance Financial Services ------------ -------------- ------------------ Total revenue $2,389 75% $628 20% $174 5% Net income 530 67% 196 24% 35 4% Return on average tangible equity 32% 18% 14% Average loans and leases, net $94,882 65% $43,527 30% $8,698 5%